Circuit breaker mechanism



July 28, 1953 F. E. FLoRscHUTz Erm. 2,647,182

CIRCUIT BREKER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3 SheetS-Sheet l Fig.|.

93M( mm [Lf LT) WITNESSES: t C@ @D {NVENTORS Frirz E. Florschufz ond Carl G. Len'rjes.

(7J l n Lv 9TTORNEY? July 28, 1953 F. E. FLORSCHUTZ ErAx. 2,647,182

CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

INVENTORS F ritz E. F Iorschutz Y) A Bend Carl G. L`entje ATTORN July 28, 1953 F. E. FLoRscHuTz Erm. 2,647,182

CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 F ig.5.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS /Z Fritz E. Florschufz dnd Carl G. Lemjes.

Patented July 28, 1953 CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Fritz E. Florschutz and Carl G. Lentjes, Pittsbur-gh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,816

(Cl. 20D-82) 15 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to circuit breaker operating mechanisms of the pneumatic type.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved iluid pressure operated circuit breaker operating mechanism which is mechanically trip free and capable of effecting high-speed opening and reclosing of the circuit breaker,

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker operating mechanism operable by fluid pressure in which the breaker is releasably connected to the operating mechanism by means of an improved high-speed, light-load latching mechanism,

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit breaker having a iluid motoroperating mechanism including a releasable coupling providing a trip-free connection between the motor and the breaker which permits highspeed reconnection of the operating mechanism to the circuit breaker before the breaker reaches full open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker with an improved operating mechanism of the pneumatic type capable of effecting high-speed operation of the circuit breaker and operating piston and quick reversal of the moving parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker with an improved operating mechanism of the pneumatic type capable of effecting high-speed opening and quick reclosing of the circuit breaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit breaker operating mechanism of the compressed iiuid operated type, which is simple, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a single embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a circuit breaker operating mechanism embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line II-II of Fig. l and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the latching mechanism and the'trip-free mechanism with the parts in the tripped position but before the breaker has moved to the full open position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in their reconnected and relatched positions;

Fig, 5 is an enlarged sectional View, taken on line V-V of Fig. 1 showing the valve mechanism for controlling the admission of compressed fluid to the operating motor.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View showing a modification of the trip-free mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the circuit breaker I I which is illustrated diagrammatically, may be of any conventional construction either oil-break, air-break or gas-blast type and is adapted to be operated to the open position by means of an accelerating spring I3. The circuit breaker is adapted to be operated to the closed position by means of an operating mechanism which in the embodiment shown is of the compressed fluid type. The operating mechanism includes a main casting I5 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed to provide an operating cylinder Il closed at its upper end by a plate I9 secured to the casting I5 by means of bolts 2| (Fig. l). Mounted in the operating cylinder Il (Fig. 2) is an operating piston 23 having secured thereto a piston rod 25 which is slidable through an air-tight opening in the plate I9. Rigidly secured to the upper end of the piston rod 25 is a coupling 2 which is releasably connected to a coupling 29 rigidly secured to a breaker operating rod 3i by means of an inverted or overlapping toggle comprising toggle links 33 and 35. The breaker operating rod 3i is operatively connected to the circuit breaker II by means of a suitable linkage.

The toggle link 33 comprises a pair of spaced parallel links pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 31 to the coupling 21. The toggle link 35 comprises a single link disposed between the links 33 and is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 39 to the coupling 29. The toggle links 33 and 35 are pivotally connected together by means of a knee pivot pin 4 I.

In order to provide for straight-line movement of the piston rod 25 and the breaker operating rod 3|, and to assist the trip-free toggle 33-35 in maintaining the breaker closed, each of the pivot pins 31 and 39 are provided with rollers 43, there being a roller 43 mounted on each end of each of the pivot pins 3l and 39. These rollers cooperate with corresponding vertical slots 45 formed in a pair of spaced frame members 41 rigidly mounted on the plate I9 and extending 3 upwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation. In order to provide suitable bearing surfaces for the rollers 43, plates 49 provided with slots coinciding with the slots 45 are secured to the outside of each of the frame members 41 in any suitable manner, preferably by welding.

The circuit breaker is held in the closed position by means of a main latch 5| and a light load latch mechanism indicated generally at 53. The main latch 5| is pivotally mounted on a pin supported in the frame members 41 and is biased, by means of a spring pressed plunger 51 into latching engagement with a latching surface 5.9 on the coupling 21. The plunger El is slidably mounted in an opening in a cross bar 6| rigidly supported between the frames 41 and is biased by means of a compression spring S3 compressed between the cross bar El and a washer B5 on the plunger. The main latch 5| is provided with a. latching surface 61 for cooperating with the latching surface 59 on the coupling 21 and also has a downwardly extending projection 69 the purpose of which will be described later.

The light-load latching mechanism 53 includes an under-set tripping toggle comprising toggle links. 1| and 13 and a trigger latch 15 cooperating to releasably maintain the tripping toggle in its'underset position. The toggle link 1| comprises a pair of links rigidly joined by a cross member 11 and are pivotally mounted on a xed pivot pin 19 supported by the frame members 41. At their free ends the toggle links 1| carry between them a latch roller 8| with which the trigger latch cooperates to maintain the tripping toggle 'li-13 in its underset position. The toggle link 13 comprises a pair of spaced parallel links disposed one on each side of the link 1| and pivoted on the knee pivot pin of the trip free toggle 33-35 outside of the toggle links 3 3. The toggle links 13 are pivotally connected to the toggle link 1| by means of a knee pivot pin 83.

The trigger latch 15 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 85 supported in a pair of spaced brackets 81 (only one being shown) which in turn are rigidly. secured to a cross plate 8S mounted on the frame members d1. Also mounted on the under side of the cross plate 8 is a tripping electromagnet 9| comprising a xed magnet yoke 93', an venergizing winding S5 and a movable armature 91. Av trip rod 5S is secured to the armature 9-1 and extends upwardly through an opening in the magnet and through an opening in the plate 89V, the upper end of the rod 99 being disposed beneath a projection |c| of the trigger latch 15.

A spring |63 biases the latch 15 to latching position which is determined by a cross bar |535 between the side members of the toggle link 1| adjacent the latch roller. The underset position of the tripping toggles 1|-13 is adjustably determined by means of an adjustable stop screw |61 threadedly engaging a cross bar |69 rigidly supported between the frames 61 and locked in adjusted position by a lock nut ||l.

A. latch checking switch H3 is provided for checking the position of the trigger latch 15. rIhe switch H3 is mounted on one of the frames 41 and the contacts (notshown) are controlled by a plunger l5 which is engaged by an adjustable stud I |1 mounted in an arm 9 integral with the latch 15 when the latch is in latching position.

Assuming the breaker to be in the closed position it is tripped open in the following manner:

Referring to Fig. 2l of the` drawings, inthe closed position of the breaker the main latch 5| holds the piston 23 in the closed position in which it is shown against the force of nested compression springs |2| compressed between the bottom of the piston 25 and the bottom of a downwardly extending cylindrical portion |23 of the main casting l5. The accelerating spring |3 applies an upward force on the breaker operating rod. Since the pivot pins 31 and 39 are constrained by the slots 4:3 to move in a straight line, a small component of this force is applied throughthe link 35 to the tripping toggle 'I |-1S. Due to the tripping toggle being only slightly undersetf a Verysmall component of the force of the accelerating spring is applied through the tripping toggle 1|.-15 and the latch roller 8| to the light-load latch 15.

When the tripping electromagnet 3| is energized from a suitable source the armature 91 moves the trip rod 99 upward to engage and actuate the trigger latch 15 in unlatching direction to release the underset tripping toggle '1l-13. The force of the accelerating spring |3 applied to the tripping toggle immediately causes this toggle to collapse to the position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the tripping toggle 14--13 starts to collapse the breaker operating rod 3| starts to move upwardly to open the breaker. Theupward movement or" the breaker operating rod- 3| and the collapse of the tripping toggle TVI-13 causes clockwise rotation-of the trip-free toggle link 33. When the breaker rod 5| has traveled upwardly very short distance, approximately one-half inch, a tail |25 on the toggle link 33 belov,T the pivot pin 3l' engages the projection on the main latch 5| and cams the mainlatch 5| to unlatching position and releases the piston rod wereupcn the powerful springs |2| hrusts the piston Z3 andthe piston rod 2511mwardly at a speed greater than the opening speed of the breaker operating rod 3|. Since the pivot pins 3l and 59 are constrained by the slot 45 to travel in a straight line and the speed of upward movement of the pin 3,1 is greater than the speed of the pin 35, the toggle link will cause the link 35 to-rotate'ccunterclockwise 'about the pivot S5* toward the normal inverted position of the toggle This actiontln'ough tlie-pin 4l and link 'i3 rotates the link 1| clockwise about its pivot 'is far enough to permit reengagei-nent of the trigger latch 15 under the latch roller- @L This effectively recouples the pistonrod 25 to the breaker operating rod 3| andthe -parts thereafter travel in unison to the full open position or the breaker moving the piston 23 tothe top or the cylinder |1.

Recoupling-ofthe piston rod 25fto-thevbreaker operating rod 3| may be effected earlierv iii-the opening operation by using the modication illustrated in Fig. 6 oi the drawings. In this modification the piston rod 25 is connected to the breaker operatingrod 3| by meansvof an inverted toggle comprising toggle links 33a and 35a respectively pivoted on the pivot pins 31 and 39. The toggle links 33a and 35a are pivotally connected together and to the tripping toggle 1 |-13 by the knee pin 4|. The tail |25' is omitted from the toggle link 33a, and the toggle link 35afis provided with a tail |25a. Also the projection 69 is omitted from the latch 5 la.

The operation of the trip-free toggle shown-in Fig. 6I is the same as that shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 with the exception that the main holding latch 5|a. is actuated to unlatching position by the toggle link 35a instead of the lowertoggle link 3311. The speed of angular movement of the toggle link siennes A35o' aboutl its pivotr'is approximatelyy twice that ofthetoggm-link 33a about its pivot 31. Also, the tail |a actuates the latch Sla with a` much smaller lever-arm than the tail I 254mg. 1') The combination of these features effectsy unlatching orv the piston rodaftera movement of. only ape proximately of-aninoh travelof the breaker rod in opening direction followingl atripping operation. ThisV results in quickerx recouplingk of the piston rod to thebreakerirod.y

The circuit breaker is closedby admitting com' pressed gas to the operating cylinder` abovethe piston 2-3. Thetripffreetoggle .33?135 and the Ilatchl mechanism is shown Fig. 4in.the fully openposition-of the breaker. When compressed gas is admitted to the cylinder.v the piston 2.73 andI the piston rod 25- are: forced downwardly drawing the link SStherewith. Since the toggle link'- 1| of the trippingtoggle is now. latchedinthe' position shown in Fig. 4., the link-'l-Spivots aboutits pivot pin 83., which-acts as ay fixed pivot, thereby holding the toggle 33::35 in thrust trans, mitti-ng position during the.4 closing4 operation. The closing force applied .to thelink 33 is, there-` fore, transmitted through the, linky 35 vto movethe breaker. operating roddownwardly and close the breaker.

Compressed gas. is admitted'to theucylinder |1 to. close the circuit breaker, by means. of an inlet ualve device indicatedgenerally. at |28.: (Figs. 1 and 5.).. The inlet valve device. comprisesra main housing |21 secured to the top of the plate |9, which closes, the upper-,endet theoperating cylinder by means of bolts |.-2.9 i(only one being shown) The-housing |21: has, a cylinder |3|k formed therein inwhich isdisposed ay valve-operating. piston |33. Rig-idly secured to the pis,- ton- |33 savalveroci:l IISfSzeXtending. downwardly through a guide bearing |315, and avalve member |3.9is` secured-to thelower end of the valve rod |.v315a-zby means. of a nuttlAl'. Thevalvemember |:39ris'provided with a valvev facing |43.; composed orga. tough, resilient material and is normally seated .against an yannular valve seat 45 .formed inthe housing |2'|,around alarga inlet-, passage |41.` The cylinder |8|,fis.cl osedfat its upper end by means of a, closure member. lllzthreadedly engaging: an enlarged'opening;y thehousing. 21.

Thcvalve |39 and; thepiston |33, arebiased to the closed DOStDl'l by meansof a spring` |51 come pressed between the valve. member i319 anda 010-. sure platev |53; suitably Securedtothe bottomof thefhousfngf |21; bymeans dfbolts;Hilir.Y AMelipressure chamber |51 in the housing |21 below the, valve |38; is;` supplied with fluid under pres?A sure; from a suitable Source, bi1y means; offa passage |59. An inlet port |6| (Fig. 5) above thevalve 13g; communicates with metteranno cylinder l1 (Eis- 2t nbir-means of apassaae' ormedanby a porbien |53l @Fia l) ofthe hOuSrla-IZL 'rpo inietvalvo Al seis operated to the open position-,bv admitting uidunder-cressureirom the hist-pressa@- Chamber 151i@- the cylinderv |31: above the valye-,operating-w-piston |;33-.l This: is accomplished by means of :an electromagnetically operatedpilot valve deyice indicated generally at |85-- (l'igl.\y 5,) Thepilot valve` device `corn-prises ahousns |61 selzlrdtothe housing |21 @if the inletgfvalve device by meils 0f-b01ts lA :".Conly' 011 beingyshown'. The'hQuSigngo B1 isf prouidedgwith @chamber l'll' ommunicatineabymeansfof a pas sage usgwitn;themen-pressure chamber |151. A willvie l,Inormallyclosesioff thetchamher Het from ai, passage; 1 communicating .v withI the cylinder l-,ilsaboye thepiston 'Ehe valve@ .|-:15.;'is biased toclosed position bymeansloffa spring. |191 and is secured on a rod |8|y which, nturn, laats tached to the armature (not shown) of 'anelectrof magnet |83'. Also mounted on the .rod |8| is-fan exhaust valve |85 normallyopening the passage |11 to atmosphere and which closes this passage upon opening of the valve |15 to admit cornpressed iiuid to operate. the piston I 33:

For-merlin the housing |21 is a cylinder.- Ilin which is disposed a cup-shaped exhaust valve |89 for controlling a large exhaust port |91. The valve |89 has a reduced portion |93 disposeclin a cylinder which is communicated by means ofv a passage |91 With-the cylinder |31 andthe passage |11. The cylinderA |81 above the valve |89 is normally at atmospheric pressure fby virtue of one or more openings |99vtherein.

The exhaust valve |89 is normally biasedby means of gravity orsuitable spring means (not shown) to the closed positionewhere it-islseated on a beveled annular valve seat 29| which is screwed into the housing |21.` A chamberk 283 surrounding the valve seat 28| and the lower-portion of the valve |89 is communicated with the inlet port ISI by means ofr a largepassage 205.

When the electromagnet |83 is kenergized(from a suitable source not shown) the rod |91 ismoved downwardly closing the exhaust valve |95" and opening the valve |15 thug admitting fluidundler pressure from the high-pressure chamben |51 through the passages |13k and |11 tothecylinder |3| above the piston |33; This forces the piston |33 down moving the valve member |393togopen position to admit compressed uid through the passage ll'land the inlet port |5| to the operating cylinder Il Vto close the breaker inthe previously described manner,

At the same time ,compressedflui-clisA admitted to the cylinder itl to efiectopening of; the inlet valve los, compressed' fluid is also admitted through the passage |91 to the cylinder |85'4 above the portion |83' of the exhaust valve |89to main,-v tain the exhaust valve closed during the, circuit breaker closing operation.

When the electromagnet |83 is, deenergized near the end of a closing operation, the valvej|15 closes and the valve i opens to vent Athehigh-` pressure iuid frointhecylinder |.3 I. to permit the spring iti to close the inlet valve |39. Atthe saine time, the high-pressure, fluid is vented from the cylinder leu through the passages |91k and Illwhereuponthe closing cliargefof high-press sure fluid in the operating Vcylinder and in the chamber 293 blaststhe exhaust valve .|8;9to open position to vent the compressed uid from.` the operating cylinder |111. AsI soon as .the closing charseof compressed 11u-id. is exhaustedfrcm the operatingy cylinder, the. exhaust valvefisirestored by the` iorcevof gravity. orr other biasing (not-shown) to, its .closed .positiom When thebreaker arrives at theiully` closed position the spring 53; (Fig. 2,);- movesthe latch 5| into engagement. with thecouplingv to. holdcthemechanism,andthe-breakerintheclosedposition,

,If .there is no iaultconditionsuch as` an. over? loader short circuit inthe main circuit. atthe time the contacts are closed,y the. CircuitI breaker will' be latche-d ciosedl as just descrilced.` However, if there is a f'ault condition on thje *main circuit at the time the circuit breaker complettsjtl'ie main circuit the trip device 9|-l will be immediately energized and effect release of' thelatchi'ng-mechanism teto trip the breaker` free-off theloperating piston 23:,

The onerating` mechanismisroperableitoecctnormal closing operation of the circuit breaker and also instantaneous automatic reclosing operation of the circuit breaker, by means of a suitable control circuit (not shown) of conventional type for energizing the electromagnet 83 o1"- the inlet valve device 126. The control circuit for controlling the energization of the inlet valve electromagnet and the tripping electromagnet 9i may be similar to the control circuit disclosed in Patent No. 2,403,199, issued September 24, 1946, to James M. Cumming and Richard C. Cunningham and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

If the control circuit is set for instantaneous automatic reclosing, the electromagnet |83 of the inlet valve device Will be energized by means of the latch checking switch H3 the instant the trigger latch 'l5 (Fig. 2) reaches latched position. This occurs at approximately the time in the opening stroke when the breaker contacts have separated far enough to extinguish the arc. As set forth previously, relatching of the trigger latch 15 effectively recouples the piston rod 25 to the breaker operating rod. Energization of the electromagnet 183 eiects Opening of the main inlet valve |39 and admits compressed gas to the cylinder il to effect closing `of the breaker.

While the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in structural details thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim as our invention: 1. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outside said cylinder, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston, an inverted toggle connecting said piston rod and said operating rod, means constraining the ends of said inverted toggle for movement in a straight line, a trip-ping toggle connected to the knee of said inverted toggle for normally restraining the said inverted toggle in thrust transmitting position, a trigger latch normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position, trip means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions to actuate said trigger latch to release said tripping toggle and effect opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston, and spring means for effecting high-speed movement of said pist-on to relatch said tripping toggle and restore said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position at least by the time said breaker reaches open position.

2. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outside said cylinder, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston, means constraining said piston rod and said breaker rod for movement in a straight line, an inverted toggle connecting said piston rod and said operating rod, a tripping toggle connected to said inverted toggle for normally restraining the latter in thrust transmitting position, a trigger latch normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position, trip' means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions to actuate said trigger latch to release said tripping toggle and effect opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston, and spring means for effecting high-speed movement of said piston'to relatch said tripping toggle and restore said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting condition at least by the time said breaker reaches open position.

3. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outside said cylinder, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston, a main latch releasably engaging said piston rod to normally restrain said piston and said breaker in closed position, an inverted toggle connecting said piston rod and said operating rod, a tripping toggle connected to said inverted toggle for normally restraining the latter in thrust transmitting position, a trigger latch normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position, trip means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions to actuate said trigger latch to release said tripping toggle and effect opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, means on said inverted toggle for engaging and actuating said main latch upon initial opening movement of said breaker to effect release of said piston, and spring means for effecting high-speed movement of said piston to relatch said tripping toggle and return said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position at least by the time said breaker reaches open position.

4. In an electrical circuit breaker having movable contact means, operating means for said breaker comprising spring means biasing said breaker to open position, an operating cylinder, an operating piston in said cylinder, means comprising an inverted toggle connecting said piston to said breaker, means constraining the ends of said inverted toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle normally restraining said inverted toggle in thrust transmitting position to hold said breaker is closed position, latch means releasably restraining said piston in closed position, trip means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions for causing said tripping toggle to release said inverted toggle and permit said spring means to open said breaker, a projection on said inverted toggle for engaging and actuating said latch means to release said piston during the iirst part of the opening movement of said breaker, and other spring means for moving said piston at a speed greater than the speed of opening movement of said breaker to effect high-speed resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position.

5. In an electrical circuit breaker having movable contact means, operating means for said breaker comprising spring means biasing said breaker to open position, an operating cylinder, an operating piston in said cylinder, means comprising an inverted toggle connecting said piston to said breaker, means constraining the ends of said inverted toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle normally restraining said inverted toggle m thrust transmitting position to hold said breaker in closed position, latch means releasably restraining said piston in closed position, trip means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions .for CauSlIlg Said tripping toggle to release said mverted toggle and permit said spring means to open said breaker, a projection on said inverted toggle for engaging and actuating said latch means to release said piston during the rst part of the opening movement of said breaker, and other spring means for moving said piston at a speed greater than the speed of opening movement of said breaker to eiiect high-speed resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position, and valve means operable to admit compressed gas to said cylinder to eiiect high-speed reclosure of said breaker.

6. .A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit .breaker comprising an operating cylinder, a piston movable therein to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outside of said cylinder, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston rod operable to close said breaker, means connecting said piston rod and said breaker operating rod comprising an inverted toggle having one end pivotally connected to said piston rod and the other end pivotally connected to said breaker' operating rod, means constraining the ends of said toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle having one end` pivotally connected to the knee of said inverted toggle and the other end pivoted on a fixed pivot, a lightload latch releasably restraining said tripping toggle in thrust transmitting position to restrain said inverted toggle in holdin-g position, trip means for actuating said light-load latch to effect collapse of said tripping toggle and opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston rod, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon collapse of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, separate latch means normally restraining said piston rod against movement in opening direction, means on said inverted toggle operable at the beginning of the opening movement of said breaker rod to engage and actuate said separate latch means to release said piston rod, and resilient means for thereafter moving said piston and said piston rod at high speed to eiect resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position at least by the time the breaker reaches open position.

7. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising an operating cylinder, a piston movable therein to close said breaker, a piston rodv attached to said piston and eX- tending outside of said cylinder, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston rod operable to close said breaker, means connecting said piston rod and said breaker operating rod comprising an inverted toggle having one end pivotally connected to said piston rod and the other end pivotally connected to said breaker operating rod, means constraining the ends of said toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle having one end pivotally connected to the knee of said inverted toggle and the other end pivoted on a xed pivot, a light-load latch releasably restraining said tripping toggle in thrust transmitting position to restrain said inverted toggle in holding position, trip means for actuating said light-load latch to effect collapse of said tripping toggle and opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston rod, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon collapse of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, separate latch means normally restraining said piston rod against movement in opening direction, means on said inverted toggle operable at the beginning .or the qpening movement .orsad breaker rod to engage and actuate said separate latch means to release said piston rod, resilient means for thereafter moving said piston and said piston rod at high speed to eiect resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position at least by the time the breaker reaches open position, and inlet valve means operable before said breaker reaches full open position to admit compressed gas to said cylinder to eiect quick reversal of said mechanism and reclosure of said breaker.

8. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising power operated means for closing said breaker, connecting means comprising an inverted toggle connecting said power operated means to said circuit breaker, means restraining the ends of said inverted toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle connected to said inverted toggle for normally restraining the latter in thrust transmitting position, a trigger latch normally restraining said tripping togglein restraining position, trip means responsive to abnormal circuit conditions to actuate said trigger latch to release said tripping toggle and effect opening of said breaker free of said power operated means, and spring means for moving said power operated means to effect high-speed relatching of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position at least by the time the breaker reaches full open position.

9. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising power operated means for closing said breaker, means releasably connecting said power operated means to said breaker comprising an inverted toggle having one end connected to said power operated means and the other end connected to said breaker, means restraining the ends of said inverted toggle for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle connected to said inverted toggle normally restrainingthe latter in thrust transmitting position, a light-load latch releasably restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position, trip means for actuating said light-load latch to effect collapse of said tripping toggle and opening movement of said circuit breaker free of said power operated means, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon collapse of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, separate latch means normally restraining said power operated means against movement in opening direction, means on said inverted toggle engaging said separate latch at the beginning of the opening movement of said breaker to actuate said separate latch to release said power operated means, and resilient means for thereafter moving said power operated means to effect high-speed resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said inverted toggle to thrust transmitting position.

10. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston f in said cylinder operable to close said breaker,

a piston rod attached to said piston, latch means engaging said piston rod for releasably restraining said piston in closed position, a breaker operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston rod, means constraining said piston rod and said breaker rod for movement in a straight line, a main toggle connected to said breaker rod and said piston rod, one link of said toggle in the thrust-transmitting position of said toggle being in compression and the other link being in tension, a tripping toggle connectedtos'aid main toggle for normally restraining the latter in thrust-transmitting position, trip means normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position and operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said tripping toggle to effect opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston rod, a spring biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, one of said main toggle links actuating said latch means to release said piston, and spring means for effecting high-speed movement of said piston and piston rod in opening direction to reset said tripping toggle and restore said main toggle to thrust-transmitting position.

11. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker having power-operated' means for closing said breaker, connecting means comprising a pair of links pivotally connected together, f

one of said links being pivotally connected' to said breaker and the other of said links being connected to said power-operated means, means constraining the points of connection of said links to said breaker and said power-operated means for movement in aA straight line, trip means releasably holding said pair of links in thrust-transmitting position, one of said links in said thrust-transmitting positions being in compression and the other of said links being in tension, said trip means being operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said links and ei'lect opening movement of said breaker free of said power-operated means, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said links to move said breaker to open position, and spring means for moving said power-operated means to effect high-speed resetting of said trip means and resetting of said pair of links to thrust-transmitting, position at least by the time the breaker reaches full open position.

12. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston, a latch biased to latching position in which it engages said piston rod to releasably restrain said piston in closed position, a breaker operating rod, a toggle comprising a pair of toggle links pivotally connected together, one end of said toggle being pivotally connected to said breaker rodV and the other end of said toggle being connected to said piston rod, means constraining the ends of said toggle for movement in a straight line, trip means releasably restraining said toggle in thrust-transmitting position and operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said toggle, one of said toggle links being in compression and the other in tension in the thrusttransmitting position of said toggle, said toggle links upon release of said toggle moving in the same direction to permit opening movement of said breaker free of said piston, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said toggle to move said breaker to open position, means on one of said toggle links for engaging said latch When said toggle is released to effect release of said piston, and spring means or moving said piston and said piston rod to effect resetting of said toggle to thrust-transmitting position.

13. A high-speed operating mechanism for a. circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston 1n said cylinder operable to close Said breaker, a

piston rod attached to said piston, latch means engaging said piston rod to releasably restrain said piston in closed position, a breaker-operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston rod, a main toggle comprising a pair of toggle links pivotally connected together, pivot means pivotally connecting one end of said toggle to said breaker-operating rod and the other end of said toggle to said piston rod, means guiding said pivot means for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle connected to said main toggle for normally restraining said main toggle in thrust-transmitting position, one link of said main toggle being in compression and the other link being in tension in the thrust-transmitting position of said main toggle, trip means normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position and operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said tripping toggle to effect opening movement of said breaker rod free of said piston, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, one of said main toggle links upon release of said main toggle engaging and actuating said latch to release said piston, and spring means for actuating said piston to effect highspeed resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said main toggle to thrust-transmitting position.

14. A high-speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising power-operated means for closing said breaker, a main toggle comprising a pair of toggle links pivotally connected together, pivot means pivotally connecting one end of said toggle to said breaker and the other end of said toggle to said power-operated means, guide means cooperating with said pivot means to constrain said pivot means for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle connected to said main toggle for normally restraining said main toggle in thrust-transmitting position, one link of said main toggle being in compression and the other link of said main toggle being in tension When said main toggle is in thrust-transmitting position, trip means normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position and operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said tripping toggle to effect opening movement of said breaker free of said poweroperated means, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said tripping toggle to move said breaker to open position, and means for moving said power-operated means in opening direction to reset said tripping toggle to restraining position and to reset said main toggle to thrust-transmitting position at least by the time the breaker reaches full open position.

15. A high speed operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising av cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close said breaker, a piston rod attached to said piston, a pivoted latch, biasing means biasing said latch to latching position in which said latch engages said piston rod and releasably restrains said piston in closed position, a breaker-operating rod disposed in axial alignment with said piston rod, a main toggle comprising a pair of toggle links pivotally connected together, pivot means pivotally connecting one end of said: toggle to said breaker operating rod and the other end of said toggle to said piston rod, means guiding said pivot means for movement in a straight line, a tripping toggle connected to Said main toggle for normally restraining said main toggle in thrust-transmitting position, one of said main toggle links being in compression and the other of said main toggle links being in tension in the thrust-transmitting position of said main toggle, trip means normally restraining said tripping toggle in restraining position and operable in response to abnormal circuit conditions to release said tripping toggle to effect opening movement of said breaker free of said piston, spring means biasing said breaker open and operable upon release of said tripping toggle to move'said breaker to open position, one of said main toggle links upon release of said main toggle engaging and moving said latch to unlatching position to release said piston, spring means for moving said piston and piston rod in opening direction to effect high-speed resetting of said tripping toggle and resetting of said, main toggle to thrust-transmitting position, and said biasing means moving said latch into latching engagement with said piston rod when said breaker is moved to closed position.

FRITZ E. FLORSCI-IUTZ.

CARL G. LENTJES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,807,020 Van Sickle et al. May 26, 1931 2,051,244 Cole et al Aug. 18, 1936 2,408,199 Cumming et al. Sept. 24, 1946 

